Baiyun No. 1 High School.
Inside the principal's office.
"Teacher, Principal, that's the situation."
Shi Yan spoke to Qin Feng and Li Shuogen.
He had just told them about the inexplicable improvement his body had undergone inside the Stone Cave.
Li Shuogen and Qin Feng exchanged a glance, the shock in their eyes growing ever stronger.
"Good, excellent! Shi Yan, you've seized the initiative!"
Li Shuogen laughed heartily, then began clearing up Shi Yan's confusion.
"Strictly speaking, only after this physical transformation did you become a true martial artist!
According to your description, this was the first leap in the level of life. It generally happens after adulthood. Only after undergoing this First Metamorphosis can one draw close to nature and sense spiritual energy; only then can one cultivate and become a martial artist in the true sense!
Do you know why high schools don't have breathing techniques? Because without this metamorphosis, a breathing technique would be useless even if we gave one to you.
There's a saying—I don't know whether you've heard it—that the annual expenditures of Huaxia Kingdom's Four Great Famous Schools are comparable to the fiscal revenue of a medium-sized nation.
Why? Because nearly half their resources are invested into making their students undergo the First Metamorphosis!
Once you enter a Martial Arts University, the school will match you with all kinds of methods and resources to bring about your metamorphosis. Only afterward will Breathing Techniques and various resources be distributed.
The global average time for university students to undergo their First Metamorphosis is one and a half years. For Huaxia Kingdom's Four Great Famous Schools, the average is 7.5 months. The fastest record holder underwent metamorphosis one month after enrollment.
So now you understand just how great an advantage you've gained, right?"
After saying that, the shock on Li Shuogen's face still had not faded.
By the average calculation, Shi Yan could begin cultivating a breathing technique 7.5 months earlier than everyone else.
No, 10.5 months earlier!
The 7.5 months were counted from enrollment onward, and Shi Yan still had three months before school began.
"Shi Yan, remember this: no matter which school you want to attend, make them give you a breathing technique immediately."
Li Shuogen spoke gravely.
"Only then can you catch up to those prodigies who have been soaking in powerful medicinal baths since childhood."
"Wait, Principal. I feel that my Blood Vitality now is no weaker than those geniuses'. Why are you still saying I need to catch up?"
Shi Yan felt that his current Blood Vitality had already surpassed Qi Ziyue's and the others'.
He was already ahead of everyone else, yet he still had to catch up? Wasn't that backwards?
"You do need to catch up, so don't be unconvinced."
Li Shuogen smiled. This was the disadvantage of coming from a small place.
"Those geniuses with deep backgrounds have had their growth planned out by their Lineages since childhood. Don't be fooled by the fact that everyone's Blood Vitality is more or less the same right now. In terms of potential, physical constitution, and so on, the vast majority of people cannot compare to them.
Most importantly, after completing the First Metamorphosis, their cultivation speed will become extraordinarily fast due to years of accumulated strength bursting forth.
You know Lin Ye, right? He is the best example. In the early stages, several people had higher Blood Vitality and greater strength than him. But what happened later? Lin Ye was the first to reach the realm of a Seventh-Order Martial General."
"Thank you for your guidance, Principal. I understand."
Shi Yan nodded, repeatedly mulling over the information Li Shuogen had given him.
Li Shuogen and Qin Feng did not disturb him for long. After giving him a few more instructions, they dismissed the small meeting.
Shi Yan returned home, washed up, and fell straight into bed.
He slept all the way until eight in the evening.
When he picked up his phone, he found a great many missed calls.
There were calls from his uncle, Gu Feng, Liu Wang, classmates, and quite a few unfamiliar numbers.
He ignored the unfamiliar calls outright and did not return his classmates' calls either. He merely said a few words in the group chat before going offline.
He had no interest in class reunions or anything of the sort, nor did he want to watch those childish displays of showing off.
Opening the call screen, he called Liu Wang first.
"Liu Wang, what a rare sight. You didn't sleep for a full day and night."
"Holy shit, so you're not dead after all." Liu Wang's delighted voice came from the other end. "Hehe, I just asked a few of the school's top students and compared scores. Your brother here has a chance of getting into Jiangnan Martial School."
"Congratulations, congratulations. Jiangnan Martial School has produced quite a few big names too. I hope you'll be the next one."
Shi Yan was happy for Liu Wang as well. It seemed the other man's powerful defense had played a huge role in the examination.
"By the way, is Lu Jiaojiao going to the gathering too?"
Before returning home, he had asked Liu Wang to keep an eye on Lu Jiaojiao.
That woman had reached her hand toward his uncle's family. She needed to be taught a lesson.
"No. She's leaving the country tonight."
Liu Wang delivered news that took Shi Yan by surprise.
"With A-Class talent and decent grades, I heard a top university in White Eagle Country threw an olive branch her way."
"White Eagle Country got the news fast. Our College Entrance Examination results haven't even been announced yet."
"Tch~ Lu Jiaojiao posted her own grades online. Her palate's picky—she can't stomach the grain at home... Forget her. Shi Yan, are you coming to the gathering or not?"
"No."
Shi Yan refused.
After chatting for a few more minutes, he hung up.
He then called his uncle Gu Guoping and Gu Feng.
Just as he had expected, they were calling him over for dinner.
After tidying himself up, he went downstairs to buy two bottles of liquor, then headed for Bigui Residential Area.
Not long afterward.
Shi Yan stepped into his uncle's home.
The home was still the same old home, but today it had been cleaned until it was exceptionally neat and spotless.
Moreover, the walls and ceiling had been pasted or hung with various festive decorations. If they put up spring couplets too, it would practically look like New Year's.
"Uncle, Aunt, you two..."
The normally frugal couple had made such a big fuss over this, leaving Shi Yan somewhat surprised.
Gu Feng stood off to the side with an embarrassed expression.
He had told them that his cousin liked things simple.
"Xiao Yan, don't mind it. Your uncle only gets to encounter something like this once in his life. We have to put on at least a little bit of a show."
Gu Guoping's face was slightly red. He had clearly been drinking already.
Shi Yan swept his eyes over the numerous gifts on the floor and by the entrance, and knew that people had already come by.
They were either from the neighborhood office, the school, the city, or perhaps all of them.
"Xiao Yan, Aunt used to speak harshly. You..."
Zhang Shufen, who had dressed herself up carefully, came before Shi Yan with an apologetic expression.
But Shi Yan quickly interrupted her.
"Aunt, stop. If I cared about it, I wouldn't have come. Besides, you didn't really do anything wrong, and I've been eating your food all this time."
As he spoke, Shi Yan looked at Gu Feng.
How exactly had this kid done his ideological work?
"Cousin, I did my best."
Gu Feng spread both hands, looking helpless.
His mother had insisted on apologizing. He could not stop her no matter what.
"Why talk about all that? Come, come, get the dishes ready and pour the drinks."
Gu Guoping waved a hand grandly and pulled Shi Yan down into a seat.
Zhang Shufen instinctively wanted to say a few words to her husband, but when she saw the room filled with festive decorations, she forcibly swallowed them back down.
"Xiao Yan, wait a moment. Aunt made several delicious dishes for you."
With that, she went into the kitchen to busy herself.
While they waited for the food, Gu Feng sat beside Shi Yan.
"Cousin, my parents want to ask you about Qi Ziyue."
"Hm??"
Shi Yan nearly lost his grip on the wine in his hand.
What did that mean? How did his uncle and aunt know about Qi Ziyue?
And what could have happened with Qi Ziyue?
"Xiao Yan, you're not that young anymore."
Gu Guoping's next sentence made Shi Yan understand what was going on.
Good heavens, wasn't this moving far too fast?
"Uncle, stop right there. There isn't even the first stroke of the character eight yet, and I don't have any plans in that direction right now."
Shi Yan was quick-witted and quick-handed. As he spoke, he had already poured Gu Guoping a glass of wine and handed it over.
They absolutely could not discuss this too much. He and Qi Ziyue had only cooperated briefly and had no relationship whatsoever. If people talked too much and word got out, it would take on a different flavor and harm the girl's reputation.
"Fine, fine. You're just like Xiao Feng. You've both grown up and don't want us interfering anymore."
Gu Guoping was already slightly drunk. As he spoke, he raised his glass and drained it in one gulp.
Shi Yan did not know what to say either, so he followed suit and emptied his own glass.
Just then, Shi Yan's phone suddenly rang.
He took it out and saw another unfamiliar number, so he hung up again.
He had already declined several calls on the way here. In his previous life, he had received anti-fraud education—if he could avoid answering unfamiliar numbers, he would avoid answering them.
If he did not answer, he would not be deceived.
Besides, his relatives and friends had all contacted him. He had no entanglements of interest with anyone outside, so there was absolutely no need to pay attention to such calls.
"Steamed sea bass is here."
At that moment, Zhang Shufen began bringing out the dishes.
The warm and harmonious family dinner officially began.
Above the clouds.
A black fighter jet streaked through the sky at tremendous speed.
If anyone saw it, they would surely cry out in shock.
The skies belonged to flying demonic beasts. Anyone who dared fly at such heights was undoubtedly an expert among experts.
At this moment, inside the fighter jet.
A simply dressed old man put down his communicator with a helpless look on his face.
"Miss, he hung up again."
"I know."
Qi Ziyue turned her head, her jade-like hand clenched tightly.
That bastard Shi Yan had rejected twenty-seven of her calls!
"Miss, there is something I'm not sure whether I should say."
"Say it."
"Do you really owe him two hundred million?"
"I really do."
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